Chimpanzees, Unlike Humans, Apply Economic Principles To Ultimatum Game

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
When given the ultimatum game, chimpanzees, unlike humans, conform to traditional economic models. Unlike humans, chimpanzees do not show a willingness to make fair offers and reject unfair ones. In this way, they behave like selfish economists rather than as social reciprocators.

Memory Processes Restored In Mice With Mental Impairment

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
Scientists have discovered how to reverse the learning and memory problems inherent in the most common form of mental impairment. The findings suggest the possibility of fragile X syndrome therapies that allow for increased learning and memory.

What Makes Quantum Dots Blink?

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
In order to learn more about the origins of quantum dot blinking, researchers have developed a method to characterize it on faster time scales than have previously been accessed. Nanocrystals of semiconductor material, also known as quantum dots, are being intensively investigated for applications such as light-emitting diodes, solid-state lighting, lasers, and solar cells.

Improving Liver Cancer Diagnosis

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
Researchers have identified proteins that could be used to improve the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma causes about one million deaths each year and is especially frequent in Asia, especially in China, where it is the second most frequent fatal cancer. But the diagnostic methods and therapies are limited, which has prompted scientists to look for proteins inside the body that indicate the presence of the disease.

US Defense Stockpile Is 'Ineffective', According To Report

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
Neither the federal government nor industry leaders have enough accurate information to know how secure supplies of important minerals are. This lack of information even extends to the area of national defense; the National Defense Stockpile, a cache of material in place to deal with national emergencies, is wholly ineffective for responding to modern needs or national security threats, according to a new report from the National Academies.

Abundant Delicious Food Could Result In 'Food Addiction', Analysis Suggests

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
Scientists have taken a closer look at existing studies on food intake and human behavior and found an increasing proportion of food consumption appears to be driven by pleasure, not just by the need for calories. Among some people living in affluent societies, the food environment may be creating a form of appetitive drive similar to that produced by other pleasure-driven activities such as drug use and compulsive gambling.

New Telomere Discovery Could Help Explain Why Cancer Cells Never Stop Dividing

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Scientists have discovered that telomeres, the repeated DNA-protein complexes at the end of chromosomes that progressively shorten every time a cell divides, also contain RNA. This discovery calls into question our understanding of how telomeres function, and may provide a new avenue of attack for stopping telomere renewal in cancer cells.

Kids Still Not Drinking Enough Milk, Study Says

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
American children are drinking too little milk and what they are consuming is too high in fat, according to a new study. Dairy consumption is closely related to calcium levels. Researchers noticed that most children choose to consume more of the highest fat varieties of dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream and dairy-based toppings, and less milk.

Nanotechnology Surges Into Health And Fitness Products

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
More than 60 percent of the 580 products in a newly-updated inventory of nanotechnology consumer products are such 'un-geeky' items as sports equipment and clothing. And, manufacturers are overwhelmingly using silver as the nanomaterial of choice.

Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Can Double Or Triple Heart Risk In Siblings

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Researchers have found that heart disease of the left main coronary artery is often an inherited condition that clusters in families. Moreover, they discovered that initially healthy siblings of a person with the condition were 2.5 times more likely to go on to develop some form of heart disease than were siblings of a patient with heart disease that did not relate to the left main coronary artery, according to a new article.

Agent That Triggers Immune Response In Plants Is Uncovered

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Although plants lack humans' T cells and other immune-function cells to signal and fight infection, scientists have known for more than 100 years that plants still somehow signal that they have been attacked in order to trigger a plantwide resistance. Botanists have now identified how plants signal that they have been attacked.

Simplest Circadian Clocks Operate Via Orderly Phosphate Transfers

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Researchers have found that a simple circadian clock found in some bacteria operates by the rhythmic addition and subtraction of phosphate groups at two key locations on a single protein. This phosphate pattern is influenced by two other proteins, driving phosphorylation to oscillate according to a remarkably accurate 24-hour cycle.

Driving Force Of Evolution? Evolution Of Proteins Linked To Species' Metabolic Rate

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
"Survival of the fittest" has popularly described evolution for more than a century, but a new study provides further evidence that random genetic mutations over millions of years may also play a powerful role. The evolution of proteins -- the organic compounds that determine the structure and function of living things -- can be linked to a species' metabolic rate. The findings suggest neutral processes independent of natural selection are also important in governing evolution.

Teens Getting Taller And Heavier

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Adolescents have grown taller and put on weight over the last 30 years, but the problem of underweight teens may be worse. An analysis of the height, weight and body-mass index of teenagers during 1966-1969 and 1995-1997 in Norway demonstrates a shift towards taller and heavier teenagers, but also hints that there are more underweight adolescents.

Nature Leads The Way For The Next Generation Of Paints, Cosmetics And Holograms

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
A plant-like micro-organism mostly found in oceans could make the manufacture of products, from iridescent cosmetics, paints and fabrics to credit card holograms, cheaper and "greener." The tiny single-celled 'diatom', which first evolved hundreds of millions of years ago, has a hard silica shell which is iridescent -- in other words, the shell displays vivid colours that change depending on the angle at which it is observed. This effect is caused by a complex network of tiny holes in the shell which interfere with light waves.

Could Cardiovascular Disease Be Controlled Through A Brain Pathway?

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
A discovery made 25 years ago about how the brain controls blood pressure regulation is only now being explored in depth. This research involves a pathway in the brain that controls blood pressure and may worsen cardiovascular disease.

New Technology Quickly Finds Leaks In Spacecraft

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
Tiny meteors flash through space. There's spacecraft debris flying around, too. And so there's a risk that objects just a few millimeters across could pierce the thin aluminum skin of spacecraft such as the International Space Station orbiting 220 miles above Earth. A tiny hole means a tiny leak of pressurized air. And these leaks can be hard to find. Researchers have developed a new tool that will make finding these leaks quick and easy.

FDA Approves Knee-injury Device For Humans

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
A new knee-surgery device that will help to repair meniscus tears, which were previously defined as irreparable, has been approved by the FDA for use in humans. Previous treatment options forced surgeons to completely remove the damaged portion of the meniscus. Typically the removal of the meniscus leads to painful, debilitating arthritis in the knee.

Hydrogen Storage Model Speeds Development Of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
Engineers have developed a hydrogen storage model that could speed the development of alternative fuel vehicles. Hydrogen is a potential source of clean energy for future use in passenger vehicles powered by cheap and energy-efficient fuel cells, but its widespread adoption has been hindered by the need to store it on-board at very high densities.

Avoiding Sweets May Spell A Longer Life, Study In Worms Suggests

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
Worms live to an older age when they are unable to process the simple sugar glucose. Glucose is a primary source of energy for the body, and can be found in all major dietary carbohydrates as a component of starches and other forms of sugar, including sucrose and lactose.

Detecting Liquid Explosives On A Plane

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
After the plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airlines with liquid explosives was uncovered in London in August 2006, there has been pressure on the airline industry, and Homeland Security, to find new ways to not only detect liquids in baggage and on airline passengers, but also to figure out what they are.

New Treatment For Chronic Arthritis-Related Back Pain

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
Radiofrequency ablation, where heat energy destroys or stuns the nerves of a painful joint, is a developing therapy for chronic arthritis-related back pain. In the right situation, this approach may be welcome -- though usually not permanent -- relief, according to the Mayo Clinic. The best candidates for this procedure are those who have arthritis that's primarily confined to the spinal area, and possibly the upper buttock region. In an outpatient procedure, doctors apply radiofrequency energy either continuously for one to two minutes to destroy the pain-causing nerve tissue; or in pulses to stun the nerves.

Battling Watermelon Virus With Genes From Bottlegourds

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
New help may be on the way for beleaguered growers of popular crops like cucumbers and watermelons. Many varieties of the widely grown bottlegourd appear to have resistance to Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), a problem for commercial growers of pumpkins, squashes and other kinds of melons, including watermelons. Scientists are screening bottlegourds for genetic resistance to ZYMV and then will plan hybrid crosses aimed at strengthening commercial crops against this virus.

Genetic 'Roadblock' Hoped To Inspire Future Type 2 Diabetes Research

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
A 'genetic roadblock' identified in a recent study could pave the way toward novel treatments for type 2 diabetes. Researchers have found the first genetic evidence that the elimination of the gene for glycogen synthase kinase-3 in mice sensitizes the animals to insulin.

Cilia: Small Organelles, Big Decisions

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
Scientists say they have figured out how human and all animal cells tune in to a key signal, one that literally transmits the instructions that shape their final bodies. It turns out the cells assemble their own little radio antenna on their surfaces to help them relay the proper signal to the developmental proteins "listening" on the inside of the cell.

How To Relax

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT
Relaxation should not be last on the to-do list. Relaxation is a vital process that decreases wear and tear on the mind and body. Refueling through relaxing can reduce the heart rate, lower blood pressure, increase blood flow to major muscles, reduce muscle tension, reduce headache and back pain, improve concentration and reduce emotional responses such as anger and frustration.

In Dogs, A Shortcut To Mapping Disease Genes

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Geneticists have developed a tool for efficiently mapping disease genes in dogs. This genomic tool may accelerate studies of dog diseases, many of which also affect humans. While dogs and humans often share the same living spaces, they are also susceptible to many of the same illnesses, including cancer, epilepsy, and diabetes.

Better Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Closer As Scientists Solve Critical Part Of Insulin Puzzle

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Scientists are now one step closer to improved treatment of Type 2 diabetes following significant findings made by scientists at Australia's Garvan Institute of Medical Research. The team from Garvan's Diabetes Signalling Unit, has identified an enzyme known as "PKCepsilon" (PKCe) that is active during diabetes and blocks the availability of insulin.

Developing A Modular, Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
There are two aspects to creating an effective drug: finding a chemical compound that has the desired biological effect and minimal side-effects and then delivering it to the right place in the body for it to do its job. One Vanderbilt researcher is tackling the second part of this problem. She is creating a modular, multi-functional drug delivery system that promises simultaneously to enhance the effectiveness and reduce undesirable side-effects of a number of different drugs.

Improving Cancer Diagnosis

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Researchers have developed a new way of detecting the abnormal presence of complexes of sugars and proteins in the blood of cancer patients, thus providing a new tool for cancer diagnosis. Many proteins on the surface of cells have sugars attached to them, which helps the cells bind with one another and communicate among one another. But in cancer, these cell surface proteins can have an abnormally high number of sugar molecules attached to them.

Fossil Data Plugs Gaps In Current Knowledge, Study Shows

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Researchers have shown for the first time that fossils can be used as effectively as living species in understanding the complex branching in the evolutionary tree of life. While many scientists feel that fossils can offer insights from the ancient past, others have been reluctant to use extinct species because the data they offer is often less complete.

Early School Success Protects Against Teen And Young Adult Drug Use

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT
Adolescents who do well in school are less likely to smoke, drink or do drugs. But which comes first: drug use or school failure? Patterns of educational success or failure are well established for most adolescents by the time they reach the end of eighth grade, while drug use has only begun to emerge by that time.

Cosmetics With Soy Rather Than Petroleum Base Developed

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
When chemists originally developed SoyScreen, they envisioned outdoor enthusiasts and other consumers using their invention as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based sunscreens. Instead, SoyScreen became the technological platform from which iSoy Technologies Corporation, began launching a novel class of cosmetic ingredients called "skincare bio-lipid actives."

Elevated Carbon Dioxide Spurs Shrub Growth

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Shrubs far outgrew native grasses in Colorado rangeland when exposed to elevated levels of carbon dioxide. The results suggest that rising CO2 levels in the Earth's atmosphere may be contributing to shifts in plant community dynamics, in which woody vegetation is favored over perennial forage grasses.

Climate Change Likely To Help With Groundwater Recharge

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere could seriously impact air, weather and vegetation. Now scientists are taking a closer look at what could happen underground. If atmospheric CO2 levels double within this century, as many climate models predict, some areas could experience large increases in the rate of groundwater recharge, the process by which water filters through the soil and enters aquifers.

Carriers Of 'Plaque' Gene At Greater Risk

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
When it comes to obesity, all fat deposits are not alike. Scientists found that individuals who were born with a particular gene variant had a significantly greater buildup of plaque in their arteries than those who were not carriers.

Potatoes Chock Full Of Phytochemicals

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Americans love their spuds, consuming 130 pounds per person annually. Now that culinary love affair could grow even more passionate with new findings that some potato varieties are packed with health-promoting compounds called phytochemicals. Using a new analytical method, plant geneticists have identified 60 different kinds of phytochemicals and vitamins in the skins and flesh of 100 wild and commercially grown potatoes.

Fortifying Feed With Biodiesel Co-products

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Biofuel research isn't just a matter of finding the right type of biomass--corn grain, soybean oil, animal fat, wood or other material--and converting it into fuel. Scientists must also find environmentally and economically sound uses for the by-products of biofuel production. Current biodiesel supplies are often made from the triglycerides, or fat, found in soybean oil.

Switchgrass: Bridging Bioenergy And Conservation

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
An important part of the answer to the country's energy woes could be blowing in the prairie wind, according to a plant geneticist. He has spent the past 10 years breeding switchgrass, an eight-foot-plus native plant that was an integral part of the tall grass prairies that once dominated America's Midwest. As a breeder, he is mostly concerned with the plant's bioenergy-friendly attributes, including its ability to accumulate large amounts of biomass and tolerate environmental stress.

Garlic's Goodness Best Released With A Crush

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Consuming large amounts of raw garlic may be good for your heart, but not necessarily your social life. So, how do we best enjoy these pungent little bulbs, without missing out on their impressive health benefits? Crush them. Then bake them slightly.

Copper: An Important Nutrient For Fetal Brain Development

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Copper helps move telecommunications signals across phone wires, allowing people to talk to one another across long distances. Tiny amounts of copper, within certain enzymes in the brain, also help form key neurotransmitters that allow brain cells to "talk" to one another. Scientists now have described how adequate amounts of copper are important to brain function. Their animal model studies suggest that levels of copper intake are critical to the fetus during pregnancy -- a concept called "nutritional programming."

New Pheromone Sprayer Leads Amorous Moths Astray

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
For decades, apple and pear growers have "adorned" their orchards with hundreds of plastic dispensers that emit a chemical sex attractant, or pheromone, to disrupt codling moth mating. A new spraying method done four to six times a season disrupted codling moth mating as effectively as the time-consuming hand-hung dispensers.

Ticks Don't Come Out In The Wash

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Before venturing into tick-infested territory, you used a topical repellent on exposed skin and outer clothing. When you returned, you did a body check and threw your clothes in the wash. But clean clothes may not be tick-free clothes.

Genetically Engineered Rice Found In Two Rice Varieties, USDA Investigators Report

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Trace amounts of genetically engineered rice was present in two varieties of rice, Cheniere and CL131. No short- or medium-grain rice varieties tested positive for either GE strain investigated. The exact mechanism for introduction of the GE material could not be determined in either instance.

Volcanic Structures Monitored In The Andes Via Satellite Show Unexpected Activity

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT
The high elevation of the Andes Cordillera make surveillance of these volcanic structures complicated and restricting. Researchers recently investigated a volcanic complex located on the Argentina-Chile border using images captured by a European Space Agency satellite. The data acquired showed that over the study area two types of deformation appear to affect the terrestrial crust.

How 'Mother Of Thousands' Makes Baby Plants

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
New research shows how the houseplant 'mother of thousands' makes the tiny plantlets that drop from the edges of its leaves. Mother of thousands appears to have lost the ability to reproduce sexually and make seeds, but transferred at least part of the embryo-making process to the leaves to make plantlets, according to researchers. The findings could be useful in manipulating plant reproduction.

Worm Study Sheds Light On Human Aging, Inherited Diseases

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
Microscopic worms used for scientific research are living longer despite cellular defects, a discovery that is shedding light on how the human body ages and how doctors could one day limit or reverse genetic mutations that cause inherited diseases, according to a new study.

How Basil Gets Its Zing

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT
The blend of aromatic essential oils that gives fresh basil leaves their characteristic warm and sweet aroma is well characterized but not much is known about the enzymatic machinery manufacturing the odiferous mix. Researchers followed their noses and solved part of the molecular puzzle.